Artist Alleges Her Art Work Was Stolen for Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s ‘All The Stars’ Video

A British-Liberian artist Lina Iris Viktor says her artwork was stolen for the gorgeous Kendrick Lamar and SZA video, "All The Stars" from the Black Panther: The Album soundtrack.

Directed by Dave Meyers and the little homies (Kendrick Lamar and TDE president Dave Free) the video has enjoyed wide-spread acclaim since it dropped last week. However, Viktor says that her work was stolen and used in the visual.

Specifically, the artist says that the video mimicked the gold patterned artwork from her "Constellation" series. Okay Africaactually pointed out Viktor's influence when the video dropped last week.

The New York Times reports a lawyer for Viktor sent a letter to TDE label head, Anthony Tiffith, alleging a copyright violation of the 24-karat gold, patterned artworks.

“The infringement of Ms. Viktor’s rights is willful and egregious,” the letter says. It adds that Victor is willing “to discuss a resolution of all her claims, consisting at a minimum of a public apology for the unauthorized use and a license fee.”

Viktor's representatives say Marvel contacted her about using her artwork back in November 2016, but she declined. She points out the irony that a film that's been widely praised for its use of African culture is now allegedly stealing work from African artist.

“Why would they do this? It’s an ethical issue, because what the whole film purports is that it’s about black empowerment, African excellence — that’s the whole concept of the story. And at the same time they’re stealing from African artists," Viktor told the Times.

Kendrick Lamar, Anthony Tiffith, and Disney declined to comment to the Times' request for comment.

You can check out the side by side comparison of Viktor's work and the imagery that appears in "All The Stars" over at the New York Times here. Check out the imagery in question at the 2:59 mark in the "All The Stars" video above.